CHAPTER 30

Ten minutes later, ayra came out from her room to help her mom set the dinning and dish the food. But before she stepped out she have heard a little sound at her window, exactly the sound she heard the first time Jack came to her room, expectant and excited she went over to her little verandah and peeked but it was just a stray dog shuffling around. Disappointed she had decided to go help her mom.

Hey mom, let me help you carry those she said lifting the heavy china from her hands.

Thank you love, where is your sister?

Uhm she's not out yet.

Alice!!, Alice!! Catherine screamed at the top of her voice as ayra finished the final touches at the table and sat down quietly at a chair.

Ayra go call her, tell her to come right this minute.

Ayra humped on her seat hesitating for a while, but she quickly stood up from her seat when she noticed her mom glaring at her.

Ayra was almost at her door when Alice stamped out, dressed in a comfy sleepwear smelling of lavender with a creased forehead.

Ayra heaved a sigh of relief and detoured back to her seat immediately.

Mom why are you screaming my name like am deaf.

You weren't answering so I had to raise my voice a bit, sit down let's have dinner she ordered.

Aish when did it become compulsory to have dinner together?

It isn't but it will if you don't sit.

Tsk tsk she grumbled as she grudgingly sat down beside her which made her directly opposite to ayra. So what are we having for dinner ? Mom what did you cook?

Your favourites spaghetti Bolognese with minced beef she replied inhaling the food tray before serving them.

Ayra groaned mom this is so nice, you should make this more often she said twirling the spaghetti with her fork and shoving into her mouth.

Yeah am glad you like it, she turned to Alice expecting her to comment on the food but her all attention was focused on her phone, she barely even glanced the food on her plate.

Alice no phone on the dinning.

Mom I really have to reply to the messages, plus I have to invite more people now a pop star is attending my party, omg it's gonna be littttttt I can literally feel it she said in a breath.

Catherine nodded her head, I understand baby but you can do all that after eating.

Okay Mom she replied making a big show of dropping her phone and eating. Hmm not bad mom,maybe you can make it on my birthday day oh don't worry I will just order, teenagers don't like homemade she explained.

That's not necessarily true, I love homemade ayra inputed.

Duh your not a teenager.

Ayra looked shocked and offended at the same time, what do you mean by that? she questioned, dropping her fork and holding a hand to her chest .

Ah ah before you get your Rader up or blame me for indigestion, what I mean is you are not a typical teenager, you are not a normal definition of an American teenage she replied.

Whatever ayra replied picking her fork again, normal is boring .

Alice made a face at her, sticking out her tongue.

Before ayra could return the favor, Catherine giggled at their conversation you know the way both of you fight, am surprised that you guys have the same favorite food she mentioned.

Mom it was my fave food first before ayra started liking it, she is always copying me Alice stated.

Ahh that's a big lie, I have always loved pasta you copied me instead ayra blazed.

Whatever!! You can have it anyways, newsflash spaghetti Bolognese aint my fave anymore. It's a childish food anyways, food meant for girls like you.

I don't understand, what did you mean by that statement " Girls like me "?

Am not answerable to you lil sis.

Stop it both of you Catherine ordered mildly, do you guys ever wonder why you fight too much?

They both remained silent, completely ignoring her question.

That's because you both are too alike, you think alike, share the same interest and have similar faves. Therefore similar cords repel each other she concluded.

Ewwww Alice muttered, staring at her mom like she had lost her mind .

Mom you are wrong, ayra said disappointed dhe had to lecture her mom about science.

Scientists has proven that -

Zip it ayra, don't you dare play your nerdy card on me.

Omg thank you mom, I got a headache immediately she started speaking thank you for stopping her Alice said massaging her forehead.

Ayra 's eyes teared up but she quickly looked down on her plate of food and bit her lower lip to stop the tears from spilling. The last thing she wanted was to embarrass herself in front of them , and be insulted again she thought sourly.

When had it become a sin to be intelligent? She asked herself, guaranteed maybe she was too extra sometimes, but she couldn't allow anyone make a mistake in her presence especially in topics she was very knowledgeable in duh their loss, they missed out on learning some interesting facts she consoled herself.

Guys how would you feel if, Catherine started finally deciding on hinting her new relationship to them, in order to see their reaction.

How would will I feel if what mom? Alice interrupted on her thoughts.

Uhm so I have a friend yeah, and she lost her husband just a few years back and she has kids too just like me, but she's not me ha -ha she giggled nervously.

Mom I don't know of any friend of yours, that lost her husband .

Alice!! Concentrate on the story, Catherine said said irritated.

Ok okay continue.

So lately my friend has been seeing a man, and -

Wait what? A man!! Ayra said speaking for the first time in the conversation, mom how could your friend be like that?

Like her husband is barely cold in the grave and she's seeing a man? Alice added.

Catherine felt like she had been poured a bucket of cold water, what are you guys saying? She still has a life and deserves to be happy and her children are pain in the ass she defended feebly.

Mom she is very irresponsible ayra said with a note of finality, wait are you sure she even loved her dead husband?

Catherine almost lost her cool at that, how dare she doubt her love for her husband but she held herself when she remembered, they thought it was her friend and not her.

Ayra and Alice don't you think you guys are being too harsh on my friend?

Hmm mom you should stop being friends with her , before she influences you. Dad always said evil corruption corrupts good morals Alice muttered standing up from her chair, thanks mom for the dinner she said almost at the door of her room.

Mom I have to go in too, have a note to study ayra also said thank you for the dinner it was really delicious she added, before walking into her room.

Catherine shivered a little, as she sat alone at the dinning table astonished and out of her wits. She had wanted to know their reaction , she was more scared now than ever. They would really hate her if they ever find out, she thought to herself before standing up and clearing the table.